Calgary Housing Market Still Strong
Below is an article that notes Calgary’s home prices are still supported.
Mark Herman, top Calgary mortgage broker for purchases and mortgage renewals
Calgary’s housing market is not under threat of a correction despite a downturn in the local economy, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said in an analysis Thursday.
Why today’s bank rate cut is not a big deal for mortgages
Below is a great summary of why this rate cut is not a big deal mortgage wise.
All the banks kept their rates the same but for TD that lowered their Prime rate by 0.10% only. No other banks have followed yet and are not expected to. As you can see the banks will keep that rate cut to boost their profits … because they love money; specifically, your money, not you.
4 Reasons Canadian Mortgage Rates Are Going to go up Soon
Here is a great summary of what is causing mortgage rates to be nosing up in the near future. They really should have gone up by now but the anticipated “Spring housing market rush” competition with the banks is holding them down.
Mark Herman, top Calgary, Alberta mortgage broker for home purchases and mortgage renewals
The latest round of economic data has real-estate watchers returning their focus to interest rates.
- Activity in the bond market and the latest employment numbers are fueling predictions there will be a bump in fixed-rate borrowing costs in the near future.
- Employment improvements are generally seen as a harbinger of inflation. That, along with other domestic and international considerations, is pushing up government bond yields, which in turn drive fixed mortgage rates.
- There is also the notion that the big, trend-setting lenders will be looking to move rates up to bolster profits.
- As well, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz has hinted he might be willing to let inflation run in order to avoid hiking the policy rate. That would also put upward pressure on government bond yields.
The graph we watch to show us this is here:
Bank Payout Penalties: The math behind “how they get you!”
This is a great article with the perfect math example.
Remember, there is also the catch of the collateral charge by the big banks that makes it cost about $2500 to leave your bank when your term is up.
Graph shows why mortgage rates may go up soon
We watch all kinds of indicators for when mortgage rates may change.
This is the main one, the CMB – Canadian Mortgage Bond. As you can see it is on the way up and mortgage rates and the graph are directly related.
Alberta sky is not falling
The graph below shows the expected Alberta GDP growth rate for the end of 2015 and 2016. The numbers are still positive – just not as high as they were before.
If the Calgary to Edmonton corridor was a country it would have the 2nd highest growth rate in the world after China.
Calgary housing market a low overall risk of price delines
All the hot air about Calgary housing being over-valued looks to be hot air as CMHC’s report notes below.
Mark Herman, top Calgary Alberta Mortgage broker for renewals and new home purchases
Calgary housing market a low overall risk: CMHC
Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald
Published on: April 30, 2015
Last Updated: April 30, 2015 5:59 PM MDT
Calgary is at a low risk of a housing correction, says Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. in an assessment of market conditions across the country.
Canadian Reverse Mortgage – CHIP loans
Here is a great article on the CHIP loan or the Canadian Revers Mortgage. And we do these as well.
Mark Herman, Calgary Alberta mortgage broker.
Reverse mortgage.
Just hearing those words creates a visceral response among some who see it as a sinister product that drains fragile old people of their home equity.
Schedule of Increased Alberta Real Estate Fees
Here is a schedule of the actual increase in fees.
For my comments on what this all means see my last post here
Please contact me by phone at 403-681-4376 or my email at mark.herman@shaw.ca
Data:
- Increases are only for 5% down payment buyers.
- Clients who get submissions in prior to June 1st will be eligible for old premiums.
- Effective June 1st, (owner occupied 1 – 4 unit) mortgage loan insurance premiums will be:
| Loan-to-Value Ratio | Standard Premium (Current) |
Standard Premium (Effective June 1st, 2015 |
| Up to and including 65% | 0.60% | 0.60% |
| Up to and including 75% | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| Up to and including 80% | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Up to and including 85% | 1.80% | 1.80% |
| Up to and including 90% | 2.40% | 2.40% |
| Up to and including 95% | 3.15% | 3.60% |
| 90.01% to 95% — Non-Traditional Down Payment | 3.35% | 3.85% |
All this from Mortgage Mark Herman, top Calgary Alberta mortgage broker for home purchases and mortgage renewals.
Newly increased fees for home buyers – comments
The new fees are not that big a deal. It will add a bit but not much. All the news is just noise by the press looking to turn out an easy article. Below are my comments that will be in the Calgary Sun this week.